the WHO mhGAP Intervention Guide, preferable
treatment options consist of basic psychosocial support
combined with antidepressant medication or
psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavior therapy,
interpersonal psychotherapy or problem-solving
treatment. Antidepressant medications and brief,
structured forms of psychotherapy are effective.
Antidepressants can be a very effective form of
treatment for moderate-severe depression but are
not the first line of treatment for cases of mild or
sub-threshold depression. As an adjunct to care by
specialists or in primary health care, self-help is an
important approach to help people with depression.
Innovative approaches involving self-help books or
internet-based self-help programs have been shown
to help reduce or treat depression in numerous studies
in Western countries (Andrews et al, 2011).